Legislation

National policies have a presumption against clearance of semi-natural woodland for other land uses.

Natural England has issued Standing Advice on protecting ancient woodland from development, on the basis that ancient woodland is irreplaceable.

Thinning or clearance of woodland requires a felling licence from the Forestry Commission. This will stipulate the type and level of restocking.

Wet woodland is present in some of the Dearne Valley SSSI sites.

Wet Woodland in LWS has a presumption against permission for change of use.

Individual or groups of trees may be protected by Tree Preservation Orders.

Felling and woodland management where protected species are present may commit offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Protected species include all breeding birds and species of bats. Licences may be needed from Natural England.

Good management practice:

Wet woodlands are well-suited to a low-intervention approach. Positive conservation management in stages over time includes:

• Avoiding drainage /drying out and retaining standing water and water courses where present.
• Maintaining or restoring a varied structure including older trees and younger growth.
• Retaining old, dead and dying trees and dead wood
• Creating and maintaining open areas.
• Removing invasive species.
• Connecting wet woodland sites to other priority habitat sites if possible including other wetland areas. Scrub and Reed Canary Grass, Phalaris arundinacea along streams and dykes may benefit wildlife.

Conservation: Wet Woodland is well represented in Barnsley with many opportunities for its conservation.

Causes of loss or decline of Wet Woodland

• Clearance and conversion to other land uses
• Drainage or water abstraction resulting in change to drier woodland types, scrub invasion and loss of standing water
• Unnecessary removal of old and mature trees and of deadwood
• Inappropriate grazing levels and poaching of soil, leading to a change in the woodland structure and ground flora impoverishment
• Poor water quality due to pollution from agricultural or other runoff
• Invasion by non-native species such as Himalayan balsam
• Air pollution affecting bryophyte and lichen communities and Wet woodland trees such as Alder increasingly affected by disease.

Wet Woodland Conservation

See also guidance and requirements

for Countryside Stewardship and

New Environmental Land Management Schemes

Links for Information and Advice

Natural England Standing Advice

Buglife: Managing wet woodland

Woodland Trust Woodland Flood prevention

Forest Research: Woodland Flood prevention

RSPB: Management of Wet Scrub.